I’ll wrap up the #Xena Virtual Season ep I illustrated, The Battle of Amphipolis, with this drawing, which I believe is the 1st one in the story: Xena & Gabrielle return to Amphipolis a year after the events of season 6’s Haunting of Amphipolis to find the city now flourishing.

It’s Winter Solstice, so I included market place details reflecting that: moon pies, sun cookies, & a villager dressed as Chronos (aka Father Time). I believe #Xena & Gab are dressed in outfits designed by the editorial staff, which I used for reference.

Back in 2020, after I 1st got the idea to write up my Rock of Ages idea, I looked for a shorter #Xena project that’d help me ease into the challenge. I remembered I could’ve done much better to live up to this script, so I decided to give it another try.

I reread it, took notes, assembled references & screenshots, & incorporated all I learned about #Xena over the years, which is way more than I knew at the time. I realized I could recognize references the writer used from the show that I didn’t catch at the time, & I could add layers by tying it in further.

By the time I was ready to start drawing, I hit upon a workable approach for my own script, & that took priority, but I’m still intrigued by the idea. In the scene above, I’d add more detail to the market so it included references to a later Amphipolis ep, Heart of Darkness. 

There, we see Eve preach to the villagers, & set up an Elijian church in town. So here, I’d add some Elijian touches, such as fish-shaped baked goods, heart & dove shaped items & figurines that resemble what we’d recognize as magi, in green.

The only thing I think the story is missing to make it an authentic tv ep is a more explicit portrayal of the warlord threatening the town. It doesn’t need to be in the script, but as illustrator I could’ve filled in that gap with distinctive designs of the invaders that brought them to life, no dialogue needed.